Vaginal medicament applicators



May 14, 1957 E. B. CANTOR VAGINAL MEDICAMENT APPLICATORS Filed Dec.

FY62. 5 19 /6 \\\j;)\\\ 5 17 16'; w J 15 \\\\\\\\\l {I g 20 Tf2 IN V ENTOR. [Bk/A20 5. CAN TOE aw M wza ATTORNEYS United States PatentfiVAGINAL MEDICAMENT APPLICATORS Edward B. Cantor, Sherman Oaks, Calif.ApplicationDecemberZL' 1955, Serial No. 555,342 6 Claims. (CL-128 235)reach the cervix opening regardless of'variations in'the :position ofthe cervix and to reach into the most remote recesses for applyingmedicament to all surface areas. More specifically, the invention aimsto provide a plurality of nozzles adapted to'flex and'yield upon Contactwith a-near wall of-the cavity so that other nozzlesma'y extend on intomore remote recesses. Thus provision is made for conformingthe arrayofnozzles to varying shapes and dimensions in theinternal wall contours.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specifications andappended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an applicator embodying the invention, fullycollapsed;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same,'-pa'rtially in section, fullyextended;

Fig. 4 is an axial sectional view of the applicator, partially extended.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown, as an example ofone form in which the invention may be embodied, an applicator includinga shell 10 of cylindrical form having a rounded tip-11 which may beapproximatelyspherical or oval in shape, for'facilitating insertion ofthe applicator. At its rear end it is provided with a flange 12 whichmay be detachably secured thereto as by means of a collar 13. Collar 13may be attached in any suitable manner, as by cementing, or by means ofthe threads illustrated. Tip 10 is provided with five nozzle guide portsincluding a central port 14 disposed on the major longitudinal axis ofthe applicator, and four lateral ports 15 equidistantly spacedcircumferentially about port 14. The number of ports 15 may be variedwithin a range of, for example, three and six, without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Ports 15 are disposed in conically flaringarray, diverging forwardly, as shown.

Slidably mounted within shell 10 is a nozzle unit including a barrel 16fitted snugly within collar 13 with just suflicient clearance to befreely slidable therein. At its inner end barrel 16 has a head 17 ofresilient material such as soft rubber in which are anchored the rearends of five nozzle tubes including a central tube 18 and four lateraltubes 19. Tube 18 is slidably received in central port 14 and tubes 19are slidably received in ports 15, being thereby flexed to forwardlyspreading relationship corresponding to that of ports 15. Nozzle tubes19 are of medium flexibility, such as to readily yield when pushed2,792,003 Patented May 14, 1957 .2 into contact with a-cavi'ty wall, butare not limp, being adapted tor'emain self "supporting as projectedfrom'the tip of shell 10, even when filled with medicament. A moderatelyplasticized thermoplastic'resin (e. g."vinyl resin) maybe satisfactorilyutilized. The rear ends "of the nozzle tubes may be secured in barrelhead '17 in any suitable manner, as by'cementing them in place with asuitable adhesive'for such resins, especially satisfactoryresults'bein'g obtained where the barrel 16 is m'adeof 'a similarplastic resin. I'n'su'ch case, the barrel 16 isrelativelyunplasticized,-beingrelatively rigid.

At its rearend barrel 16is formed with handle means 20 which may be inthe 'form'of diametrically opposed finger grips, as in 'a'sur'g'i'c'alhypodermic syringe, or'm'ay be in the form -of a flange, as shown.Alsoatthe'rear end of the barrel is "a retainer'flange' projectinginwardly and defining a'cylindric'al bearingwali 21 and a retainershoulder 22. At its forward"end,barrel 16 is provided with a retainereo1lar23' which, forth'e purpose of assembly' (asinth'e case of collar13) is fabricated as a separate unit and secured in encircling relationto barrel '16, as by cementing 'or by'means' of threads.

In assembling the applicator, "Darrel 16 is inserted through collar 13andretainer'collar 23 is attached thereto prior to" insertion intocasin10.

Sli-dably mounted in'barrel 16 is a piston 24 which'has a cylindricalbody wall fitted to bearing wall 21. At its forward end, piston 24 isprovided with a head 25 the periphery of which is fitted to the internalwallof barrel 16. Head zsrna 'be in the form of'a flatring, as showfitted ever a 'fieck '26 attli'e forward end oflpi stou 24 and suitablyseeured'thereto, as by cementing, after piston '24 hasbeenassembledwithin barrel 16. A fillingduct 27 extends through piston24, full length along its major axis,'and is normally'closed at its rearend by a stopper 28, which 'is preferably threaded into the piston 24"soas to be securely anchored thereto when 'fluidpr'es'sure is developed induct 27 as hereinafter set forth. A flange 40 on the rear end of thepiston engages therearen'dof barrel 16 to determine a forward limit ofprojection'of piston 24 into barrel'16. Engagement of the projectingperiphery of head 25 against shoulder 22 determinesa rearward limitofwithdrawal of piston 24 frombarrel1'6, andpre'vents thepa'r'ts'of the alicator from beingpnl'led apart.

rearward limit position'shown inFig. 3, and "injecting medicamentthrough duct 27 into the chamber which is defined within barrel 16 bythe withdrawal of the piston. With barrel 16 withdrawn from casing 10,so that nozzles 18, 19 are retracted, as shown in Fig. 3, the casing 10is inserted into the vaginal cavity. The barrel 16 is then projectedinto casing 10, to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus projecting thenozzles 18, 19 and spreading them as shown, into the remote recesses ofthe cavity. The spreading of the nozzles is facilitated by theresiliency of mounting head 17, which will yield to allow a limitedamount of pivotal movements of the anchored ends of tubes 18, 19 in head17. The piston 24 is then projected into barrel 16, expelling themedicament from barrel 16 through nozzles 18, 19 to the vaginal areas tobe treated. The applicator will then be in the fully collapsed positionshown in Fig. 1.

The invention contemplates as an alternative to the moderate flexibilityof tubes 18, 19, referred to above, the possibility of using tubes thatare rigid, depending upon the flexibility of head 17 for their yieldingaction.

I claim:

1. In a medicament applicator, a casing having at its forward end a tipprovided with a plurality of bearing ports the axes of which areoutwardly flared; a barrel slidably mounted in said casing, projectingfrom the rear end thereof and having a head at its forward end; aplurality of flexible nozzle tubes the rear ends of which are anchoredin said barrel head, said nozzle tubes being slidably received in saidcasing ports for projection from the casing in spreading relation whenthe barrel is projected into the casing, said barrel providing amedicament-containing chamber communicating with said nozzle tubes; anda piston slidably mounted in said barrel, projecting from the rear endthereof, and operable to eject medicament from the barrel and throughsaid nozzle tubes when projected into the barrel.

2. An applicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston is providedwith an axial filling passage through which medicament may beinjectedinto said chamber to fill the same; and means to normally close theouter end of said passage.

3. In a medicament applicator, a casing having at its forward end a tipprovided with a plurality of bearing ports the axes of which areoutwardly flaring; a barrel slidably mounted in said casing, projectingfrom the rear end thereof and having a head at its forward end; aplurality of flexible nozzle tubes the rear ends of which are anchoredin said barrel head, said nozzle tubes being slidably received in saidcasing ports, said barrel being operable between a rearward limitposition withdrawn from the casing wherein said nozzle tubes areretracted into the casing with their forward ends received within I saidports and a forward limit position telescoped into the casing, whereinsaid nozzle tubes are projected from the casing in spread relation, saidbarrel providing a medicament-container chamber communicating with therear ends of said nozzle tubes; and means operable to eject medicamentfrom said barrel through said tubes.

4. In a medicament applicator, a cylindrical casing having at itsforward end a rounded tip provided with a plurality of bearing ports theaxes of which are outmovement of said barrel in said casing, said barrelbeing operable in such sliding movement to withdraw said nozzle tubesinto said casing with theforward ends of the tubes received in saidbearing ports at the rearward limit,

. I 4 and to project said tubes from the casing in spreading relation atthe forward limit; and a piston slidably mounted in said barrel,projecting from the rear end thereof, and operable to eject medicamentfrom the barrel and through said nozzle tubes when projected into thebarrel.

5. In a medicament applicator, a cylindrical casing having at itsforward end a rounded tip provided with a plurality of bearing ports andhaving an open rear end provided with handle means; a cylindrical barrelslidably mounted in said casing, having at its forward end a head ofyieldable elastic material; a plurality of flexible nozzle tubes therear ends of which are anchored in said head for limited pivotalmovement accommodated by the yielding of said head, said nozzle tubesbeing slidably received in said bearing ports; said barrel and easinghaving coacting stop means for establishing forward and rearward limitsof sliding movement of said barrel in said casing, said barrel beingoperable in such sliding movement to withdraw said nozzle tubes intosaid casing with the forward ends of the tubes received in said bearingports at the rearward limit, and to project said tubes from the casingin spreading relation at the forward limit; and a piston slidablymounted in said barrel, projecting from the rear end thereof, andoperable to eject medicament from the barrel and through said nozzletubes when projected into the barrel.

6. In a medicament applicator, a casing having at its forward end a tipprovided with a plurality of bearing ports and having an open rear end;a barrel slidably mounted in said casing, projecting from said open end'and having at its forward end a head provided with a plurality ofapertures; a plurality of flexible nozzle tubes having rear endsanchored to said head and communicating with said apertures, said barrelbeing operable, upon sliding the same between forward and rearward limitpositions, to withdraw said nozzle tubes into the casing, with theforward ends of the tubesreceived in said bearing ports in the rearwardlimit position, and to project said nozzle tubes from the casing in theforward limit position, said nozzle tubes being adapted to assumeoutwardly spreading relation to one another in said projected positions;and means operable to eject medicament from said barrel through saidtubes.

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany nOct. 25, 1926

